Alcester RFC

Alcester signed off their travels for the season with victory in blustery Coventry, completing the season double over their opponents in the process.

Alcester took the lead when James Hibbard crashed over after a great break by man-of-the-match Dwayne Cruickshank.

The home side came back into the game, and after a missed penalty opportunity, they took the lead with their first try, although there was more than a hit of obstruction in the scoring. The try was converted to put Broadstreet 7-5 ahead.

Alcester hit back mid-way through the half and after a series of powerful forward drives the ball was spun wide to number 8 Christian Rushton, who crashed over in the corner.

Jamie Clarke added to Alcester's lead with their third try but the game remained competitive and that spilled over into a bout of handbags which saw Cruickshank and a Broadstreet player yellow carded.

Leading 7-15 at half time, the Alcester pack picked up where they left off with a dominant scrum and from the base, Rushton picked up and fed captain, Will Silk, for Alcester's bonus point score.

The conditions were making kicking difficult for both teams, so both sides elected to keep ball in hand to take play up field rather than put boot to ball.

Alcester lost lock Louis Smith to a back injury, which saw Alcester veteran Robbie Parker come onto the field and a reshuffle which moved Silk into the pack on the flank.

This did little to stop Alcester's scrum dominance and after another determined drive towards the line, Rushton once again picked up behind his advancing pack and this time went himself to dive over under the post, for his second and Alcester's fifth score. Ed Gough converted to leave Alcester 7-27 ahead.

The home side still looked dangerous on occasion and their full back exploited a huge gap in the Alcester defense to run in a try from distance and narrow the gap to 14-27.

Buoyed by this score, Broadstreet continued on the offensive and they came close to a third try when they were held up over the line.

There was still time for Alcester to score the team try of the game as forwards and backs interchanged well to set wing, Mark Burrell, free to cross the line out wide and leave the final score at 14-32.